GWU revs up offense, captures 1st win of season

BOILING SPRINGS — The mood was quite different in the second half of the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs homecoming bout Saturday afternoon at Spangler Stadium.

After an 0-4 start to the season against one of the nation’s toughest FCS schedules, the ‘Dogs not only tasted victory but got to see a lot of their work pay off. In the 42-14 win over Division II opponent Shorter (Ga.), GWU saw a lot of different players get playing time.

“We’re always happy to get a win,” GWU head coach Carroll McCray said, “but they (players) realize we have a lot to improve on. I didn’t have to remind them of that. It’s important with the challenge in the week ahead that we deal with the reason for some of the negative plays we had.”

GWU, now 1-4 on the season, has a nonconference test next Saturday in Durham against N.C. Central.

The ‘Dogs fumbled on their first offensive play and saw Shorter (0-6) capitalize for an early 6-0 lead. But on the series, the GWU offense methodically worked down the field 75 yards with a combination of run and pass. Senior quarterback Tyrell Maxwell carried it in from the 4 with 5:37 on the clock to take a 7-6 lead.

“I feel like with coach (Brett) Nichols, we do a great job of having a balanced play sheet,” said Maxwell, who ran for two scores and threw for two more. “Even after the fumble at first, our guys up front felt pretty good they could push them around. I thought they were very mature as a group on that drive.”

Then when GWU got the football back, Maxwell set sail on an 83-yard touchdown run on a quarterback draw.

“It was a great call, and we had some great blocks there,” Maxwell said. “Their backside safety over-ran the play and then when our wide receiver made the block. It was just me and the one guy racing (for the goal line).”

Maxwell finished with 139 yards rushing, and teammate Jonathan Blackmon added 102, including a 38-yard touchdown romp. In all, GWU’s 418 net rushing yards were the second highest all-time for the ‘Dogs (record versus Lenoir-Rhyne in 1986). Freshman A.J. Moses also had a 12-yard scoring run for the victors.

GWU also got 144 yards passing from Maxwell, with three different receivers getting multiple catches, including tight end Jackson Goodman, who had a 42-yard touchdown catch. Adonus Lee also had a 27-yard touchdown catch.

“We were able to use the option on the edge (of the defense),” McCray said, “and we ran it just well enough that the safety had to stay over (to the middle). The tight end was able to get out of the box and was open. We’ve got to be able to do things like that or it (the option) can dry up quickly.”

GWU surrendered 198 passing yards to Shorter quarterback Tyler Pullum — many of those in third-down situations to keep the football. But after two scores in the first half by the Hawks, GWU kept the door to the end zone closed the rest of the way.